Tuesday, 4 September 2012

From the looks of its cover, you may interpret this novel as
a novel for teenager/children. When you read the excerpt at the back, you will
realise that the main characters of this story are an imaginary friend named
Budo and his imaginer friend, Max. I should tell you that this book is anything
but a book for teenagers or children. The story is far from being childish.

The story revolves around Budo, who looks like any other boy
except for the fact that he’s an imaginary friend who has existed for five years.
That is a long time for ‘people’ like him. His imaginer friend is a problematic
eight-years-old Max. Imaginary friends [like Budo] watches over children [like
Max] until they stop imagining their imaginary friends. In his school, Max is
one odd kid, his parents think he has a problem since Max acts unlike other
normal children, but Max loves the way he is, and Budo knows it very well. Still,
a day comes when one dreadful incident occurs, and while Max’s parents and
other people are helpless, Budo knows the truth and is forced to bring Max out
of an impending calamity – a calamity that may break the life of Max’s dad and
mom… and put an end to Budo’s own existence.

I think I’ve never seen a book that has an imaginary friend
as the storyteller. This basically makes the story unique. The author has
painstakingly given us the characteristics that enable us to realise ‘what is
an imaginary friend’. Budo has only existed for five years, but he is way
beyond his age. He is worried about his life and it does tick with us. We’re
walking in this world, living, wondering where we will go the next day. The only
difference: our life is not as precarious as the existence of Budo.

The relationship between Budo and Max is what propels this
story the most. It’s not about Budo trying to help Max to a better kid – it’s
about Budo’s determination to just be with Max whenever he needs him, because
Max, as Budo tells us, is his God,
his creator. It’s also about the life of Budo. It’s a book about him, an
imaginary friend who doesn’t want to be forgotten and die like so many others.
Of course other characters stand out too, namely Mrs. Gosk [I’d love to be in
her class], Max’s Dad and Mom, and Oswald, especially Oswald.

There are moments in the story that will pull you in. Some
are funny, some are sad, some are suspenseful, some are poignant. Some may hurt
you, especially that one scene involving Mom and Dad. I think that one just rips
my heart to pieces and I don’t even know why. Besides that, this book is really
clever with its lines. Many are thought-provoking or sharp-witted. A lot of
those thoughts contrast with the way Budo tells his story: simple and
straightforward, but I can understand that.

If you want a heartwarming story with just the prefect
dosage of every emotion… and a whole lot of imagination, then this book is for
you.